Shahrir: New fuel subsidy scheme only in August - The Star

By Manjit Kaur

KUALA LUMPUR: A new fuel subsidy scheme will be fully implemented only in August and today’s announcement is only one of the steps in the revamp, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said.

“Any announcement by the Prime Minister (today) should be seen as a part of the implementation and not the final step,” he told a press conference after opening the 1st Malaysian Construction Summit 2008 at the Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday.

He said a full subsidy system could not be immediately decided on now, as the Finance Ministry was still evaluating proposals.

Shahrir said he did not think his statements contradicted those made by the Prime Minister.

On Monday, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Cabinet would decide today on a new fuel subsidy scheme and that it would be implemented immediately to prevent speculation.

Shahrir said the subsidy revamp could result in petrol pumps selling fuel at market prices.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/4/nation/21444347&sec=nation]